The Church in Australia

  • La Perouse and his chaplain, Abbe Mones

    La Perouse enters Botany Bay and his chaplain, Abbe Mones, celebrates the first Mass within Australian territory
  • Irish convicts

    First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay
  • Fr James Dixon

    Fr James Dixon and two other priests arrested as part of the 1798 Irish Rebellion are transported to New South Wales as convicts
  • Public Mass

    The first official public Mass was held under strict Government supervision
  • Australia’s first official priests

    Fr John Therry and Fr Philip Conolly, Australia’s first official priests, arrive in Sydney. Fr Therry opens the first Catholic school in Parramatta
  • St Mary’s Chapel

    The foundation stone of St Mary’s Chapel is laid by Governor Macquarie and blessed by Fr Therry. Father Connolly built the first Catholic church in Tasmania
  • Catholic school

    Fr Therry founds the first Catholic school on Hunter Street, Parramatta
  • John Bede Polding

    John Bede Polding was ordained as a Bishop and had jurisdiction over the Commonwealth of Australia.
  • Fr Therry as the colony’s official chaplain

    Fr Therry as the colony’s official chaplain. Catholic centres are established in Wollongong, Maitland, Parramatta and Windsor.
  • Catholic Mission to the Aboriginal people

    Polding launched the first Catholic Mission to the Aboriginal people on Stradbroke Island, Queensland.
  • The Sisters of Charity

    The Sisters of Charity establish St Vincent’s Hospital in the centre of Sydney and offer its services free to all people, but especially to the poor
  • Mary MacKillop

    Mary MacKillop becomes the first Sister and Mother Superior of the Sisters of St Joseph
  • Archbishop Polding dies

    Archbishop Polding dies at Sacred Heart Presbytery in Sydney aged 85.
  • St Vincent de Paul Society

    First St Vincent de Paul Society established in Sydney.`
  • Universitys

    Foundation of Notre Dame University and the Australian Catholic University
  • Pope Benedict XVI

    Death of much loved, Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected Pope Benedict XVI